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Friday, August 30, 2013

A lengthy speech from disgraced church leader and common councillor Donnie Snook as he looks at anywhere from 12 to 21 years in prison....Snook addressed the courtroom for a good 20 minutes, attempting explain the crimes that have rocked the community.

Snook saying he wishes he could turn back time, and he is overwhelmed by deep sadness as he stares into the darkness he created for so many people. As he cried and asked for forgiveness one man stood up in the courtroom screaming "You don't deserve it! 17 (blank) kids!" and was quickly pulled out by guards. He apologized to his victims, their families, the mayor and common council, the Inner City Youth Ministry, and many more groups in the prepared speech.

Snook was emotional as he described his own sexual abuse and struggles with his sexuality, saying now it is all about the victims finding healing and promising not to contact any of them. The no contact order will also be part of his sentencing, which is scheduled to take place on October 10th.

It's a sure sign that summer 2013 is over , if the back to school shopping and the chilly nights were not a big clue.The City of the Saint John telling CHSJ News that lifeguard services at Dominion Park,
Lily and fisher Lakes and the Lakewood Reservoir end for the season on Monday.

The Rainbow Park and Flemming Court splash pads will
also close after the Labour Day weekend and reopen next June.

The cat that was shot with an arrow in the area of Richmond and Exmouth Streets earlier this month is coming along quite well after extensive surgery and is almost ready for adoption.

He has been named Wyatt which means "Little Warrior". Melody McElman of SPCA-Animal Rescue tells CHSJ News Wyatt was a street cat and it was discovered during neutering that he's suffering from feline leukemia.

McElman says that means he has to go to a home where there are no other cats but should be able to live for a few years yet.

She says he's such a lovable cat, there should be no problem in finding a good home for him.

As directed by Common Council, the city is taking down all signs that are illegally placed on city owned land. The uptown with its man sandwich board signs is exempt which has prompted some criticism of favourtism.

Ward 3 Councillor Donna Reardon says the exemption is not out of order considering businesses in the uptown are tight for space and are also faced with other restrictions.

Reardon says uptown businesses have no frontage where they can erect signs as well as having the heritage regulations to deal with which stipulate no sign be bigger than 5 square feet and letters on awnings can be no longer than 8 inches.

Former Common Councillor Donnie Snook's deviant sexual interest in children is not likely to go away. That's what the court was told at his sentencing hearing.

The prosecution is recommending the disgraced youth ministry leader be sentenced to 21 years in prison and serve at least half before coming up for parole.

The defense is calling for 12 years.

His risk of reoffending is described as being on the high end of moderate.

Snook is expected to address the court this afternoon which was also told he picked the kids in need and some of them were willing to trade sex for cash. The court also heard he had unprotected sex with many of the victims whom he did not have an emotional relationship with or empathy for.

In his psychological profile, the court was told Snook had been sexually abused as a child and has poor coping skills to deal with his lonliness and personal losses.

The prosecution at the sentencing hearing of former Common Councillor Donnie Snook is recommending he get 21 years in prison and serve at least half while the defense is calling for a sentence of 12 years.

He is described as being on the high end of a moderate risk to reoffend although he is willing to participate in rehabilitation treatment.

The court was told he did not empathise with his victims and did not have an emotional relationship with them....It was just about the sex.

One of the victims was Snook's own foster child whom he used to get access to other children and he had unprotected sex with many of the young people.

The court also heard that because he was offering money, some of the young people who come from disadvantaged backgrounds approached him to trade sex for cash.

The sentencing hearing of former Common Councillor Donnie Snook has been told he was sexually abused as a child himself and has poor coping skills to deal with his lonliness and personal losses.

Dr. Mary Ann Campbell told the court Snook felt better while sexually abusing the young people but regretted it afterwards. 11 children were hands on victims of sexual abuse while 4 others were victimised online.

Prosecutor Karen Lee Lamrock says shen she calculated what Snook should serve by offense, it worked out to 75 years in prison but she's recommending 21 years. Snook showed no emotion after hearing what her recommendation is.

On the other hand, the defense is calling for a sentence of 12 years arguing that Snook has co-operated with the investigation.

Defense lawyer Dennis Boyle says Snook wonders whether his sexual desires were sent by the devil to undermine his ministry with young people and considers his capture to be the best day of his life.